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German coalition talks: European allies urge Martin Schulz to form a government

Germany's Social Democratic leader Martin Schulz has revealed that European leaders are urging him to join Angela Merkel's conservatives in a grand coalition government. The SPD has said it will not rush to a decision.

Speaking to Germany's Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung, Schulz also indicated that he would cherish the opportunity to work together with Macron and other European allies, saying that neither France nor Germany would be able to protect social democratic values on its own.

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Johanna Uekermann: "Grand Coalition: a political hodgepodge!"

Johanna Uekermann: "Grand Coalition: a political hodgepodge!"

Although a long-time member of France's Socialist party, Macron has since gone on to form his own centrist party, La Republique En Marche (The Republic On the Move!) . Nevertheless, Schulz and Macron share similar visions for reforming the European Union, particularly when it comes to boosting investment into Europe and the creation of a new EU distribution fund.

Schulz also revealed that Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras had also urged him not to let "this deciding phase in Europe go to pass."

Tsipras reportedly told Germany's Social Democratic Party leader that he respected the SPD's initial decision not to enter into a ruling coalition government. However, the Greek leader stressed that being part of the Berlin government was "a precondition to fight together for the necessary progressive reforms and democratization of Europe, for social rights and a substantial battle against youth unemployment."

Little progress in 'GroKo' talks

Germany's Social Democrats have been reluctant to begin negotiations to form another so-called grand coalition of Germany's largest parties with Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union.

German coalition talks collapse — The reactions

Angela Merkel, leader of the Christian Democrats

"It is at least a day of deep contemplation about how things proceed in Germany. But I want to say to you that I, as chancellor, will do everything to lead this country through these difficult weeks."

German coalition talks collapse — The reactions

Christian Lindner, leader of the Free Democrats

"It is better not to govern than to govern incorrectly."

German coalition talks collapse — The reactions

Cem Ozdemir, leader of the Greens

"An agreement would have been possible with the necessary goodwill. We were ready for this agreement right till the last seconds, and even to go a bit further, where you cannot actually go."

German coalition talks collapse — The reactions

Thorsten Schäfer-Gümbel, deputy leader of the Social Democrats

"The SPD is not the spare wheel on Ms. Merkel's careening car."

German coalition talks collapse — The reactions

Horst Seehofer, leader of the Christian Social Union, sister party to the Christian Democrats

"It is a pity that we did not succeed in achieving that which was within our reach."

German coalition talks collapse — The reactions

Heiko Maas, Justice Minister and member of the Social Democrats

"This party-political egoism damages our democracy."

German coalition talks collapse — The reactions

Angela Merkel, leader of the Christian Democrats.

"We believed we were on a path where an agreement could have been reached. I regret, with full respect for the FDP, that we could not come to a mutual agreement."

German coalition talks collapse — The reactions

Volker Wissing, leader of the Free Democrats in Rhineland-Palatinate

"Merkel has failed. She wanted to pursue green-and-black politics and not engage with the concerns of the FDP. The collapse of talks was the logical consequence."

German coalition talks collapse — The reactions

Julia Klöckner, Deputy Federal Chairperson of the Christian Democrats

"You can do what the FDP did, but don't have to. Well-prepared spontaneity. The decent thing would have been if all party chairpeople had announced the cancellation together."

German coalition talks collapse — The reactions

Alexander Gauland, deputy leader of the Alternative for Germany

"I see that we're having an effect. Frau Merkel has failed, and it is time for her to go as chancellor."

Author: Ajit Niranjan

The SPD initially ruled out any part in a second-consecutive grand coalition after its poor showing in September elections.

However, the chancellor now finds herself under pressure to form a new government after talks with the Greens and Free Democrats broke down last month. Mathematically, only an alliance with the SPD would give her a majority in the Bundestag, meaning any failure to secure a deal with Schulz could lead to fresh elections or force her to attempt to form a minority government.

"The CDU cannot put itself out there and demand that the SPD agrees in the shortest possible time to form the next federal government," Malu Dreyer, the premier of the western German state Rhineland-Palatinate and SPD member, told the Welt am Sonntag newspaper.

The Social Democrats' vice-chairman Ralf Stegner told the same newspaper he would be fine with coalition negotiations not beginning until January.

Meanwhile, Hans Eichel, former SPD finance minister under Gerd Schröder, speculated that a new grand coalition may prefer to only spend two years in power, rather than see through the full four-year term. Eichel said he wasn't drawn to idea of another CDU/CSU-SPD government, but said it was necessary from a European perspective.